The New Healthcare Model

The effectiveness of the modern American healthcare system meant to support and protect American people is fundamentally broken.

Let me be perfectly clear what I am saying: Today’s American healthcare system that denies coverage, overly prescribes harmful and toxic medications for gross profit, eliminates pain rather than healing the cause, creates false hope in “modern miracles” and invasive interventions, and bankrupts us in the process is fatally flawed!

In the coming pages, I am going to reveal to you the revolution we need – an entirely new model where we take responsibility for the health of our bodies + regard insurance “protections” as a last resort.

The Madness of the Current System

There is an acceleration of prescription medications available for every ailment you could imagine. And for the first time in our history, those prescriptions are being marketed directly to everyday people, rather than to the medical professionals who recommend them. In short, Big Pharma has so cleverly cultivated our desire to ease our pain with as little effort as possible that they have handed the over the power of specialized decision making to anyone with access to a TV and Google.

And the side effects! Call me crazy, but I don’t think the risk of night terrors, explosive diarrhea or uncontrollable urges to gamble are worth whatever they’re selling. Very often, pharmaceuticals do more harm than good. So why are they so profitable?

We want a magic pill. We want our pain and discomfort taken away from us as quickly and smoothly as possible. We like to believe that if we feel better, we are better. However, very few, if any, modern medical interventions treat the disease more than symptoms.

The U.S spent $3.8 trillion dollars in 2013 (Munro), and as of 2012 our life expectancy is lower, and our obesity rates have increased more substantially than 34 other nations (Kane). Preventable heart disease, the leading cause in the U.S., cost $444 billion in 2010 (Griffin). The cost of preventable diabetes rose from $174 billion in 2007 to $245 billion in 2012 (American Diabetes Association), and it remains the 7th leading cause of death in the U.S. with markers becoming more common in children (American Diabetes Association).

Even with a large part of these healthcare costs being absorbed by taxpayers, individuals continue to borrow and go broke to pay the costs of medical bills our broken system (Brill).

Over 50% of bankruptcies are a consequence of medical bills (LaMontagne).

All of this and people are not getting the miracles they hope for. Chemotherapy (Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group) and coronary bypass surgery (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Trialists Collaboration) are both touted as medical miracles, and yet they have repeatedly been shown to have surprise little effect.

I have great respect for the men and women who practice medicine with pure intentions. I believe that most professionals enter the field genuinely wanting to heal people and make a positive impact on their lives.

Unfortunately, the system is rigged against all of us, and there’s plenty of evidence to support that.

In a 2008 survey of 12,000 physicians, only 6% described their morale as positive. Most said they didn’t have enough time to spend with patients because of paperwork, and nearly half said they planned to reduce the number of patients they would see in the next three years or stop practicing altogether (Jauhar)

In healthcare we have [an] unfair structural divide — the advantage of procedural care (colonoscopies, injections, etc.) over cognitive care (taking a history, health counseling, etc.). This divide supports an inequity that is out of keeping with population health needs and the major causes of disability that keep people out of the workforce (Ungar).

In 2010, the Institute of Medicine issued a report stating that waste accounted for 30% of health-care spending, or some $750 billion a year, which was more than our nation’s entire budget for K-12 education (Gawande)

By now, I hope that you can agree we are targeted by organizations who only care about money, health care costs are exorbitant, and even the best doctors work are frustrated with the status quo.

Americans are getting sicker, paying for the privilege, and our system isn’t helping us.

A growing body of scientific evidence has demonstrated that lifestyle intervention is an essential component in the treatment of chronic disease that can be as effective as medication, but without the risks and unwanted side-effects (American College of Lifestyle Medicine).

Health Coaches educate and support clients to achieve their health goals through lifestyle and behavioral adjustments (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).

Patients are learning that working with a Health Coach is one of the most effective ways to improve their health (Institute for Integrative Nutrition).

Some 1.3 trillion of our expenses are reducible to zero if we as individuals take charge [of our health] (Roizen).

There is no question or doubt that the health and financial well-being of Americans are steadily declining at a frightening rate due to lack of real health…but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Preventable illness makes up approximately 70% of the burden of illness and the associated costs (James Fries), and account for eight of the nine leading categories of death (Health Care Statistics).

Many chronic conditions can be prevented by not smoking, being physically active and eating nutritious foods (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).Due to the exorbitant cost and lack of resources to deal with the rising tide of illness, the importance of lifestyle factors in the origin and progression of

Due to the exorbitant cost and lack of resources to deal with the rising tide of illness, the importance of lifestyle factors in the origin and progression of disease can no longer be ignored (Bland).

There is substantial evidence that type 2 diabetes can be prevented in high-risk individuals by a lifestyle program of regular exercise and weight reduction.

Lifestyle interventions were estimated to delay the development of type 2 diabetes by 11 years and cost approximately $21,100 less than [medicinal] intervention (William Herman).

Additionally, there is emerging evidence that new onset type 2 diabetes can go into remission after weight loss and exercise in a majority of motivated individuals, obviating a need for glucose-lowering medications (PA).

Our bodies heal best when we care for them well through nutrition, movement, sleep, fresh air, sunshine, loving relationships, and satisfying work; care for them well, and then get out of the way. Our bodies are miraculous machines, always moving in the direction of health and healing.

There is no intervention, medical or surgical, that does it better.

This is simple in theory and difficult in practice. Changing habits and behavior are difficult to do, and it is made even more challenging when we attempt to do it without support.

Support is crucial, and it may come from our loved ones, but often our loved ones do not have the knowledge or ability (or time) to help us make the changes necessary for us to be our healthiest, happiest selves. It often requires a professional who has an education in nutrition, dietetics, physiology, behavioral psychology, and an interest and understanding of the latest developments that surround health and wellness.

That’s my role.

Your partner in real health and personal development and a witness to your progress.

I am a Certified Holistic Health Coach by the most highly and regarded private nutritional coaching institution, the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, and I am currently earning a BS in Nutrition + Dietetics to be a Registered Dietitian.

I am also certified as a coach in both Sleep Science and Sports Psychology. My knowledge and practice are valuable + unique in that I was educated and trained outside of the system, with no bias to governmental or political policy – just the truth (however uncomfortable) and nothing but the powerful, personal application of it.

I have the skills and tools to support others as they journey toward healing, fitness, and peak performance. My clients experience real, lasting, lifelong joy in caring for themselves (and in turn, others) extremely well.

Nowhere else in the world will you find such a focused and comprehensive health coaching program.

Here are a few of my favorite, simple ways to get started:

5 New Ways to Stimulate Your Body’s Own Healing Processes

If you’re having trouble falling asleep because your mind is racing, get out of bed and stand up. Write down your thoughts if you like and don’t get back into bed until you’ve been able to let them go. Get back into bed only after your mind feels clear and get up again if your to-do list comes back. Create the sense that bed is for sleeping – not for thinking.

Create little pockets of awareness throughout your day to pause, take a few deeps breaths, and quiet your bodies stress responses. Attach these opportunities to other points in your day to make them easy to recognize, like after sitting down at your desk, before you make a phone call, sitting at a red light or after you put on your seatbelt.

Add turmeric to your diet. Turmeric reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, heart attack, stroke, and it has dozens of other health benefits. It’s a beautiful bright orange color, but it has a very mild flavor and can be used on almost everything.

Get rid of toxic household cleaners. The chemicals used to clean are extremely dangerous and are proven to cause asthma, skin disorders, and cancer (among other things). Make your own (it’s super easy) or look for an organic alternative.

Spend quality time with people you love. Turn off the phones, back away from the screens and do something fun – preferably something active and outdoors. Our satisfaction in our relationships, our jobs, and our contribution are just as important a factor in health as diet and exercise.

To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. (Buddha)

Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity. (John F. Kennedy)

Imagine what it feels like to feel…

The comfort of knowing that your family will not suffer the burden of your preventable illness

The pride and accomplishment of taking responsibility for your own health and vitality

Feeling strong, energetic, and clear-minded throughout the day

Working more productively and setting a good example for those around you

Enjoying the everyday luxuries that come with a life well lived

Loving the people closest to you more powerfully, having given yourself permission to take good care of your body and mind

My practice provides:

Full, loving engagement and patient accountability

Deep knowledge of human nutrition + behavior

The expertise you need to prepare for healthy lifestyle changes

Results-oriented stress management, nutrition and exercise coaching

Referrals for acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage

Next Strategic Steps

Please email me what you think after going through this special report

The greatest compliment you can provide me is to pass along this information to your closest friends and family

If you are interested in how I can help you prevent, heal, or manage risk factors, don’t hesitate to call me at 754-422-4341 anytime.

I’d be honored to serve you in your health journey using the New Healthcare Model!

American College of Lifestyle Medicine. (n.d.). What is Lifestyle Medicine? Retrieved from American College of Lifestyle Medicine: http://www.lifestylemedicine.org/define

American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). Statistics About Diabetes. Retrieved from American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/

American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). The Cost of Diabetes. Retrieved from American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy/news-events/cost-of-diabetes.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

Bland, D. M. (n.d.). Personalized Lifestyle Medicine: Relevance for Nutrition and Lifestyle Recommendations. Retrieved from US National Library of Medicine US National Library of Medicine : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3710624/

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Chronic Diseases: The Leading Causes of Death and Disability in the United States. Retrieved from Center for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/overview/index.htm

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Chronic Diseases: The Leading Causes of Death and Disability in the United States. Retrieved from Center for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/overview/index.htm

Drake, D. (n.d.). The Health-Care System Is So Broken, It’s Time for Doctors to Strike. Retrieved from The Daily Beast: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/29/the-health-care-system-is-so-broken-it-s-time-for-doctors-to-strike.html

Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group. (n.d.). Effects of Adjuvant Tamoxifen and of Cytotoxic Therapy on Mortality in Early Breast Cancer. Retrieved from The New England Journal of Medicine: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM198812293192601

Gawande, A. (n.d.). Overkill. Retrieved from The New Yorker: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/05/11/overkill-atul-gawande

PA, A. (n.d.). A lifestyle program of exercise and weight loss is effective in preventing and treating type 2 diabetes mellitus: Why are programs not more available? Retrieved from US National Library of Medicine: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25818810

Ungar, T. (n.d.). The health care payment game is rigged. Retrieved from National Post: http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/thomas-ungar-the-health-care-payment-game-is-rigged

William Herman, e. a. (n.d.). The Cost-Effectiveness of Lifestyle Modification or Metformin in Preventing Type 2 Diabetes in Adults with Impaired Glucose Tolerance. Retrieved from American College of Physicians: http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=718240

Author

Tiffany Anne Smith is a developmental nutritionist with a focus on human nutrition + behavior. She is currently earning her license as a Registered Dietitian and looks forward to serving her clients in the prevention + treatment of disease through diet + lifestyle.